Ask Jo: Follow up and more

Every so often I take comments that were left on the blog answer them here.  Today is one of those days.

After our quilt was featured in the current issue of Quiltmaker,  I wrote about how it works for us to get quilt projects published.  We had several questions come in after that.

From Sue:
Thank you for telling us all that. I often wondered how you went about doing something like that. Once again, Jo, you are so helpful. I was wondering too, if you have to have a blog to get asked. Have a great weekend! thanks

A similar question came from Lorraine:
Thanks for the info, Jo. Do you have to have a blog to have a quilt on Moda Bake Shop?

This is in reference to the part where I suggested that people start with submitting a design to Moda Bake Shop.  Here’s a link to the form.  As far as needing to have a blog to submit, I’m not sure if you do but if you do,  I’ll offer this, you can use my blog for the day and be a guest blogger here.  I don’t mind and will help walk you through the process.  It’s honestly not scary a bit.  Drop me a note if you want to guest post.  Here’s my email:  rogjok@iowatelecom.net

Another question that came in about the same post….
From Valerie:
Thanks for the information, I have been curious about this also. Are you compensated in any way when your quilt is published in a magazine?
The answer…yes, but very little.  Each magazine is different.  Really the amount designers get from magazines is more like a stipend.  Each magazine varies.  In our experience, designers get anywhere from $200 to $500 per project.  For some magazines the designer writes the pattern-for others, the magazine writes the directions.  If the designer has to purchase the fabric for the quilt, they really make next to nothing.  Most designers do it for exposure hoping to drive more people to their blog or website.

Next up from Cindy F:
I always wait until after a quilt is finished before I start thinking about a backing as I like to find the fabric at a good deal for the amount I’ll need. Love the graphic showing how to piece the backing, however I’m curious about the 43″ as the width of usable fabric you have on the diagram. I always was told that you should use 40-42″ as the width and then you would lose an inch with a 1/2″ seam.

Cindy left this comment after reading my blog post about figuring backing fabric measurements.  When I made these diagrams, I did what works for me…and when figuring backing, this typically works.  When we write patterns for the fabric requirements for the top of a quilt, we use 40″ as our reference point.  I just use 43″ for backing.

After seeing my stash report and a baggie of scraps someone sent to me Cindy writes:
How ‘bitty’ do you want? I am cutting scrap pieces and find I don’t use anything smaller than 2 inches. I would be happy to send them your way if you want them! Lots of different fabrics, all quilting cotton.

When I am scrap piecing with bitsy pieces, I use anything from 3/4″ square on up.  You’d be amazed with what can be made…here’s my daughter’s favorite that I made for her.

That quilt was made from bitsy pieces of recycled shirts.

From Sharon:
Glad to see that you received my box of tops. So happy to be able to send them to you. And just a little correction. I am Sharon in Arkansas not Arizona!

This is what happens when my kids are goofing around and I’m trying to write a blog post.  At the time I was writing the post the box of quilt tops was sitting on the table and I asked one of them to tell me what state the box came from.  They said Arizona.  I wrote Arizona.  My apologies.  These charity tops came from Sharon in ARKANSAS..and I appreciate them greatly.

If I missed anyone’s question or if you have a question you’d like to ask, feel free to drop me a line via email, rogjok@iowatelecom.net  or in the comment section here.